Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (in reply to eccullen)
That's interesting considering Charles told me he was going to quit building because of COPD.
He built a negra with pegs for me.. unfortunately I enjoyed a prolonged and serious illness and was forced to sell... could not play. Very fine guitar.. flawless and excellent playability and tone. I believe it to be one of his last, if not last built in his Baltimore shop. I do know he had switched to violin family instrument set up and repair.
Thanks for the suggestion to check for his e-mail. I'll try to contact him.
His last post and login here was in Jan 2015. It shows his e-mail address to be "hidden"
RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (in reply to Jeff H)
He passed away about ~3 years ago. I found this out from a friend of his here (Baltimore) that runs a well known classical guitar shop called Kirkpatrick guitar studio. I think I remember him saying that he went downhill pretty fast. Kirkpatrick has all of Vega's Luthier woods and a couple of his flamencos, one was a Ramirez for sale. I tried to reach out to Vega to pick his brain on building but he didn't wasn't interested. Maybe because he was sick.
RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (in reply to Jeff H)
Charles was a well educated man Played brass instruments such as the Euphoneon (sp) and was in a few brass bands. Was a machinist making prototype medical equipment for Johns Hopkins University Was a fine classical and flamenco guitar player A superb classical and flamenco guitar maker Violin family technician Author on classical and flamenco guitar Guitar historian A frequent visitor to Spain where he befriended many great builders such as Contreras SR, Amelia Ramirez and often purchased guitar making supplies and shared with his many friends to include Mike Kirkpatrick, Petros and myself Collected guitar and violin and bow making literature ( I contributed to his library with some very rare books) He also enjoyed fine liquor in modest amounts and loved high quality cigars. He had a quick wit, incredible sense of humor and was extremely generous. Charles, along with myself developed "Luthier Tuning Salts " in many colors and flavors : ) Charles was a "star" on a few Guitar Discussion Groups and sadly they are gone as well. He was also a family man and adored and admired his son. They were close.
We had frequent 2-3 hour phone conversations on subjects ranging from language origin, to luthier techniques, wood sources, guitar making myths and facts, and a variety of obscure subjects.
Then one day I called and no answer. Further attempts gave the same results. No Charles. I had hopes that he had moved to Spain, one of his favorite places. Sadly not the case. I am sorry I did not pursue this earlier, and very sad to discover his departure.
He will be missed. Memorable is an appropriate word.
Posts: 3487
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (in reply to Jeff H)
In case you hadn't noticed, Brune has one of Vega's guitars for sale, with the "Carlos Francisco" label. In photos it is spectacular, with bird's-eye maple back and sides, spruce top.
I don't remember whether Brune had it last time I was at his shop--I don't remember seeing it except in photos, and I'm sure I have never played it, nor heard a recording.
If Brune is selling it, it's a good guitar for the money, at least for somebody.
RE: Charles (Carlos Francisco) Vega (in reply to Jeff H)
Note the bridge/saddle.. compensated. He did this on the negra he built for me.
And as to the "thin oil finish" ... according to Charles.. he used what he called "Ace-O-Thane" ... ACE brand varnish right off the shelf from Ace Hardware. Slightly thinned.
Charles also built one only steel string guitar.. and asked for recommendations as to specifications from the inmates at the, sadly gone, Acoustic Guitar Magazine forum. My contribution was 12 fret, slotted peghead, and ramped slots.. 1 13/16ths nut. I have actual photos of the resulting guitar. Stunning. And in the same packet from Charles I have a rosette and bridge made by Charles and a set rosewood pegs for a flamenco guitar. Perhaps it is time to combine all these with the cypress backs and sides and "Spanish" cedar neck blank, and a top of unknown species I got from him.
I haven't built a guitar in some while.. Perhaps it is time. A good project for 2018.
Printable Version
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread